The beginning of a new road {Path of the Aura Ranger: Book II}

I Leon's P.O.V

I can clearly see why Ash Ketchum has earned his place as a Champion, one so revered by my fellow champions. I watched with a raised eyebrow as Annihilape used Lapras as a surfboard, as Lapras used Surf to drown their opponents. Ash was not holding back at all, though he isn't going at the same intense pace he usually keeps up in single battles either. He seems to find a slower pace is more favorable for double battles.

"Amazing!" Hop, my adored little brother, whispered in awe next to me in the VIP box. His Wooloo and Grookey looked as excited as him.

Hop was the reason why I was in the Alola Islands on the first place. Because of my busy workload as Champion of Galar and working for Chaiman Rose, I had not been able to socialize as much as I would have liked with my fellow champions and to visit other regions. Though, The Saint Festival has been an event that I had wanted to visit for a while now. Especially, since Hop has wanted to participate since year one. Luckily, third times a charm and he has been able to attend this time. He has been in the Beginners Stage and had faced Fletchinder and Hawlucha, Ash's newest pokemon from his bio. Wooloo and Grookey had defeated them and Hop has earned his place in the Ash Ketchum Boot Camp. I was immensely proud of my little brother for being the one of the two to have defeated him. The other one had been Melody, Elite Four Utau's little sister, who had faced Kilowattrel and Dudunsparce, with her Altaria and Pikachu.

The Beginners stage was one to remember this time around. Ash's selected teams had been: Fletchinder and Hawlucha, Oshawott and Fuecoco, Rowlet and Cyndaquil, Kilowattrel and Dudunsparce. What took us all by surprise was the quadruple evolution surprise, of Fuecoco, Oshawott, Rowlet, and Cyndaquil! Now Ash had a Crocalor, Dewott, Datrix, and Quilava. The number of starter pokemon Ash has is outstanding, and I am talking! I have all Galar starter pokemon on my elite team!

"Ash is great!" Lusamine agreed, she and her family were also on the box, alongside the kahunas and Professor Kukui. "He is great when it comes to Double Battles."

"I believe that by now, Ash is the most well-rounded champion when it comes to Double Battles," I agreed with a hum, observing as Ash celebrated another victory with his pokemon. "His teamwork is flawless and what makes it even more dangerous is the fact that he can shuffle all the teams he has chosen and they will still work seamlessly with each other."

Which was true. One the Advanced Stage he chose, this time, the teams of Gengar and Krookodile, Unfezant and Leavanny, Samurott and Emboar, Butterfree and pink Butterfree, Staraptor and Gliscor, Grotle and Floatzel, Mawile and Froslass, Torkoal and Kingler. Now, on the Ace Stage he was not kidding this time around, choosing Dragonite and Garchomp, Tyranitar and Greninja, Lucario and Aegislash, Annihilape and Lapras, Bulbasaur and Squirtle, Typhlosion and Feraligatr, Sceptile and Meganium, Galarian Slowbro and Galarian Slowking. Poor challengers, none of them had a chance against Ash. Ones more only two people from the Beginners stage were able to win the festival.

"That's Ash for you," Professor Kukui chuckled with pride. "The thing that people need to keep in mind is that Ash is also a ranger, an Ace Captain. During missions his pokemon might separate from him and they will need to fend for themselves, which is why he trains all of them to be able to work with each other and to be able to battle without him commanding him."

"When he commands them their battle techniques are much smoother," Gladion pointed out. "When I was on the Boot Camp with him... well, Ash's pokemon are chaos incarnated, but with Ash in command their are an organized chaos."

"I can't wait for the Boot Camp!" Hop exclaimed excitedly.

"Before that, I need to check out the Naranja Academy," I reminded him. "Chairman Rose asked me to see if we can do something similar in Galar."

"Ok," Hop pouted, but I could see he was also excited for that visit- my little brother loves to learn quite a lot.

So, he teleported to the Orange Archipelago, as soon as The Saint Festival was over. We will be back to the Alola Islands just in time for the Boot Camp, I will not have Hop miss it. Which is why I chose to use the teleportation service of Gym Leader Sabrina. If I was in charge of leading us, we will end up lost in five minutes. Less even!

The school's outside architecture is breathtaking, making quite the statement. Upon entering the academy, we were greeted to a large entrance with three floors that also serves as the academy's library and general studying area. There's a cafeteria, school store, biology lab, art room, home ec room, staff room, director's office, nurse's office, schoolyard, different classrooms for the humanities track, general studies track, STEM track, coordinator track, and the gym trainer track. Not to mention, the dorms for those studying abroad.

The place was truly beautiful and incredible, the best part, was that Hop had fallen in love with the whole place. He had even made great friends with Giacomo, Mela, Cassiopeia, Atticus, Ortega, and Eri, who had recently all got transfered from Uva Academy, in the Paldea Region.

I had taken my time talking with the academy's director about doing a combined project with Galar and Macro Cosmos... but he refused. I totally understood his reasoning, the academy had only opened up their doors this year and adding Galar will be a mess. Especially, since the World Pokemon League and World Coordinator Committee will be opening their doors to the Orange Archipelago. So, I was not that surprised, Chairman Rose even assured me that this might be their answer.

However, what did surprise me was Hop. We had finished our work in the Naranja Academy and had returned just in time for the Boot Camp in the Alola Islands. I had stayed around to do some other errands that Chairman Rose had asked of me, while Hop had the time of his life with Ash and Melody, who was also inscribed in the Naranja Academy! But when he had returned to me and we were on our way to Galar, on a luxury cruise from Macro Cosmos, he had a serious expression on his face.

"Something wrong?" I asked him in concern.

Because of all my duties I did not get any chance to speak with Ash or get to know him, but he is widely known for being kind and generous. So, I was not worried about him treating Hop wrong. Which left me confused as to what was happening.

"I had a talk with Ash," Hop replied, huggin his Wooloo to his chest, as a plushie, as his Grookey was perched on his right shoulder- the same way Ash's Pikachu does with his trainer. It seems that they did pick up a few mannerism from them. "He heard me gush to Melody about how incredible the STEM track in the Naranja Academy was, and asked me if I was focused about becoming a Gym Trainer because it is what I wanted... or because of you." My expression grew turbulent at his words. Me being a champion affected more than just myself, I knew that. But hearing my little brother speak like that pained me, it made ma feel like a bad brother. "He told me that I should do what makes me happy, not what others would expect from me. I can battle and do science, I don't need to choose only one." My heart skipped a beat when Hop looked up, eyes glistening, with the most adorable pout. Yes, I am a brocon! Sue me! My Hop is just the cutest! "Can I transfer there? The place is incredible and I would love to join Giacomo and Cassioppeia in the STEM track! I get to train and battle there too!"

"Of course you can," I assured him. "Let me talk to our parents about it."

"Thank you Leon!" Hop beamed, jumping in my arms.

I looked at my brother, who was happier than I had seen him in a long time and felt very grateful towards Ash. I can't wait to meet him officially, neither does my Charizard. My partner was quite excited to challenge his Charizard. What will win my Dynamax or his Mega Evolution? I can't wait!